Ubisoft has recently taken up the role as a major third-party cheerleader for Wii U, and in a recent interview with Reuters, the company's CEO Yves Guillemot continued to talk up the system and its launch prospects. Guillemot had this to say about his expectation that Nintendo will manufacture five million Wii U consoles in its first six months, and argues that his company's support for the console isn't a major risk.
Generally, that's what (Nintendo) does. The number can be more, it can be less... they are always limited in the number that they can build.
It’s easier at the beginning of the console cycle to astonish people and bring them new experiences than at the end of the cycle. So the risk that is seen as a big risk by many is actually the contrary.
With Nintendo's latest financial reports estimating 10.5 million combined sales for Wii and Wii U in the fiscal year, that estimate of five million units may not be far from the mark. Will the console be a success and lead to stock shortages like in the early days of Wii? We'll have to wait and see.
[source uk.reuters.com]
Comments 38
I think the amount of units sold depends on the price, games ready at launch, and advertising.
Sounds reasonable. I could honestly seeing it doing more depending what's at launch and how its marketed.
Given the cost of all the extra things they'll want to put in the box in addition to the console and primary controller, I've been wondering if it might be worth considering a special, lower-cost package for current Wii owners, which would save on the price by not duplicating those things you already have (wiimote plus, nunchuk, sensor bar, power adaptor, etc). Then again, that might just lead to confusion over which version you need based on what accessories you already own on the Wii (traditional remote vs. motion plus required by NintendoLand, etc).
If marketed heavily during the holidays, and at a reasonable price, of course it will sell around the 5 million mark. Question is: Who's going to buy Ubisoft's shovelware?
is that alot? idk what to think about this...
@CrispyGoomba
What do they make besides ga.es that end with Z that is shovelware. And I'm not sure you have seen how much just dance makes.
Nintendo's core fan base will likely look to purchase one before end of the year, thats a few million world wide, i know we all want pikmin3 and flying squirrel mario action..And as long a parents are informed of the distinction between Wii and WiiU via thought out and tested marketing then yes, it will sell out.
Agreed, its all to do with marketing and advertising
@warioswoods I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of a budget option for Wii owners, in fact it's already planned as the subject of a feature I'm writing for next week
i expected 3 eggs today from 3 chickens,but i only got 2.never count your chickens before tney hatch.
@ThomasBW84 Is there any special reason why we're expecting anything else in the box other than a Wii U, a Wii U Gamepad and a way to connect your system to your TV?
@ CrispyGoomba
Ubisoft's launch line-up is like 10 times better than Nintendo's own.....
I expect them to sell 1m+ within the first week (worldwide). Then sales will "dwindle" (these are the people who can't afford it launch day/week). And once the holiday season hits, <2.5m will sell. And by next E3, there will be 4.63m sold worldwide. There will be more sold in Japan and NA. Once next E3 comes around THAT'S when we will see the Zeldas, Metroids, Starfoxes, F-Zeroes, and Kirbys coming out for Wii U. Sales rise again. And finally, PS4 is announced on the same day Metroid launches for Wii U. By this point we should hit...around 6m.
@ThomasBW84
Awesome, great minds think alike (except when it comes to SML2 ).
Release in black and white.
I'm getting one. I can't wait to play it.
NSMBU is, alone, going to sell about 6-7 million copies so i think the wii u is going to be fine. IF pikmin came oout day 1 i would love nintendo forever...
I don't think they'll reach that tbh. But who knows.
I'm pretty sure I will be one of the early adopters though. I really want new Super Mario Bros. U.
So, any numbers crunchers here want to post a link to Wii, PS3 and Xbox360 first 6 months sales so we know what 5 million means.
And Knuckles got it right straight out of the box - $, games and advertising.
Oh, and since Corbie was there he might know this - does the Wii U use the Wii sensor bar? I thought it looked bigger in one of videos so I thought maybe Nintendo stuck some microphones in there so I don't need that big WiiSpeak sitting on top of it. Damn thing keeps falling off. Oh, and I actually do use it, my family sends a lot of WiiSpeak messages (grandparents and grandkids), never in a game though. Maybe I'll try out AC: City Folk when I pick up Pikmin 2.
Wii U is going to be a hit. Maybe not immediately but people will wise up
Should be a great year in profits to Nintendo. The two new Mario titles the new console.... this is a turnaround. Stock price a steal. You could literally double your investment in 6-12 months no kidding. Nintendo stock was at 80 before financial crisis in 2008. Its 13 now. Best time ever...
I expect more than that in 3 months.
They still have to convince me...
And I'll gladly be one of the five million who will purchase this beauty.
I honestly don't think the launch lineup is strong enough to move the amount of consoles, but the real telltale will be the system's cost.
I think Ubisoft would have something to do with these sales if they get Just Dance 4 out for launch and instigate a television campaign to say why the fourth entry is different than the first three, then let word of mouth do what it does best.
Just Dance 4 could be the new Wii Sports as far as a casual game system seller (6 of my friends purchased a Wii just because they played Wii Sports with me). Core games like Aliens: Colonel Marines would also help the purchase.
As fun as Nintendo Land looks, I don't see it as a system seller (when you show it to your friends that is).
Well, since they don't consider the WiiU to be a risk...
Can we please have Watchdogs for the WiiU?
[insert Puss in Boots face here]
Even though this may be true it really seems like an apology advertisement after them claiming basically every game they make for the Wii U is up for grabs.
ANNNDDDD as darkgamer mentions they haven't announced Watch Dogs for Wii U
Ubisoft is certainly the #1 cheerleader of the Wii U at the moment, which is pretty cool considering how little 3rd parties gave Nintendo something to tout at other launches in the past.
5 million units is possible: Proper launch date at least 3 months before the holiday season, priced right ($300-$350 USD), and ready quality software/features at launch. I'm gonna stay at "glass is half full" on this, and with 3rd party companies giving support, it could happen.
Ubisoft is so involved with Wii U, you almost have to wonder if it's the Nintendo Wii U or Ubisoft Wii U. Wish we'd have 3rd party support like that from Square Enix, Capcom, and Konami (or I should say the old Square Enix, Capcom, and Konami).
Getting it for Christmas ! I showed it to my parents and they liked it, so i'll definitley be one of those 5 million
@warioswoods #3
Gamestop will probably allow you to trade in your Wii for a discounted Wii U.
Me buying it as soon as it comes out depends on what price it is.
That, and when they're going to tell me what price it is, because I have a rather unstable income and I need to know how much I need save, or else I will spend it on other games and by the time my temporary employment runs out and they come out with a price, I might not have enough.
So hurry up Nintendo.
The only game I want right now is Pikmin 3. I'll wait for the console to drop to $150 since there are no other games I want to play. I think a huge price drop is going to happen soon if Sony and MS release a system with double the power or more at the same launch price as the WiiU.
For those wondering about the price ShopTo.net already has preorders at £279.99 ($435). This console will likely cost more then $350 in the States. Add $100 for a second tablet and your at $450 already.
@kyuubikid213
4.63 million units is such a precise prediction =P
And I seriously seriously doubt the Wii U will EVER drop to $150, Dauntless lol And if it ever does have a price cut, it will be so late in its life that there will certainly be more games than just Pikmin 3 for you to enjoy.
I just know that I'll definitely be one of those 5 million =D
If Ubi-soft expects five million Wii U's in first six months why didn't they show Beyond Good & Evil 2 after NintendoLand? hhhmmm?
I can't see 5 million units sold in 6 months, only if the console is cheap.
Haha! Oh man, times have changed.
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